The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-22
NIKE,

Nobody would take little Mike Mark
ham for a heroine, nor would one sup
pose that little quiet figure possessed
nerve enough to save hundreds of lives
Ly her prompt action; but this was the
way of it: 1t was & hot summer after
noon, and the most absolute qniet reign
ed over the little railroad station of
Parkerstown, up in northern New Eng
land, on these sweltering July days. Not
even the customary loafers were around
and only at train time was there any
show OF life.
The down train was due at $40, but
until then, as tue sensational writer's say,
"all was quiet as the grave"
Mike was the station agents daughter
and only child. She was fiftesn, although
SO small she looked three years younger,
and was usually quiet as mouse" not
much zip to her." as the country folks
said. In spite of the current opinion,
however, she had, except the small por-
ton of time which the little country town
nearly all of her time in the ticket office
with her father, picking up, letter by let
ter and word by word, the sounds of the
Morse instrument; and finally, one day
she astonished her father by taking a
telegram by sound, giving him neat
copy
From that day Mike was installed as
telegraph operator, and the indulgent
father often said, mick could run the
office jest as we'll as he could himself" y
which, considering that Mr.. Markham
was considered by the boys "plug ope-
rator," might be called doubtful COM
pliment to Mike.
Well, this particular afternoon we are
talking about, the aforesaid "plug :"
sauntered into the depot with trouble
enthroned on his majestic brow.
Nick, I'm summoned on a jury case
up to the Center Village this afternoon.
It's too late to get anybody here, even
s'posing there was anybody to get. What
are we going to do about it? S'pose you
can tend the concern alone until get
back-probably by six9"
al guess so, father" replied Mike.
There won't be much Of anything to
do. Likely there won't be many passen-
gers for the down train this hot day, and
hope I know enough to sell ticket or
two if there are"
Well, see that those boxes go by ex-
press. The waybills are ready and in the
drawer-guess you'll get along all right
and off he went, leaving Mike mistress
of the situation - which phrase meant
more than you can imagine, that very
particular day.
At first she felt her newly acquired
Importance somewhat and stepped brisk
ly around, busting the musty little Office
dow, but there being absolutely nothing
to do and no one coming near, che
dropped into inactivity and listened to
the click of the telegraph instrument,
which to her was as companionable as
the talk of near friends would be. As the
afternoon passed dFowsily along the heat
and stiffness overcame her, and dropping
her flaxen head on the desk before her,
she was soon-as one of the good ladies'
of Parkerstown was wont to express it
" in the arms of Morphine"
Afterwards, the FIRST thing she could
remember about it, voice seeming to
come from her dreams said: "'Taint
likely she is left here alone, and asleep,
too"
NO." responded another evil voice,
the old mans prob'ly round some
whece-but" in lower tone, come on,
let's go long The down tran'll be along
and we'll just lay EN- out"
Mike was wide awake enough now, but
she had presence OF mind in her small
body, and realized that safety lay in keep
ing still.
How fur is it up there?"
"'Shl Keep mum. Do you want TO
knock the hull thing in the head, and
yourself, too?" And then the girls
quickened hearing caught the sound of
heavy footsteps passing by the window
and on up tine track.
Mike waited until she couldn't hear
the footsteps and then turned cautiously
and looked oat of the window. There
they were-two miserable looking tramps
Fastening up the track. She recognized
them at once as two men who had been
discharged from a construction tram that
had been at work down the road. What
should she do? Oh, if she could send for
for her fatherl But there was no one
anywhere near, and besides, by the time
he could get home it might be too late
for it was evident that the desperate
wretches we're bent on revenging them